D&G Buses

[Baxenden Bank]

It is interesting that BSIP money has been used here. While the specific 9A route would unlikely to be a commercial service, it will significantly impact First’s 99 and confirm D&G as the dominant operator on the Hanley - Smallthorne corridor, possibly impacting First’s remaining commercial operation on the 7/A.

The pathetic rump of a service that First provide on the 7, 7A and 99 that is!
The 98 / 99 already receive some support from Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

 

[EnviroExplorer]

Isn't this what the BSIP is for? Creating a turn up and go frequency? I wonder if the required buses will be painted in the yellow livery to match the nines

I’d hazard a guess D&G will simply continue using the Yellow Optare Versas on the 9/A, which had been nominally replaced by the new Volvo/MCVs.

 

[capitalpotter]

I’d hazard a guess D&G will simply continue using the Yellow Optare Versas on the 9/A, which had been nominally replaced by the new Volvo/MCVs.

I think the 9a will require 4 buses and would look better if they tied them in with the new Evoras

 

[SSmith2009]

I think the 9a will require 4 buses and would look better if they tied them in with the new Evoras

Aren't D&G due some more Evoras?

 

[capitalpotter]

Aren't D&G due some more Evoras?

Yes in the new year but they're destined for the "orange one" so I'd imagine they'll be route branded

 

[33117]

Apparently according to a geezer I know at DG longton MMCs 5001/5002 will be moving to macclesfield soon to complement the ex cardiff examples.

Hoping soon as well that the ex first E200s can be canned as their totally wrecked.

 

[G760XRE]

Noted today on the A500 near the Wolstanton turn heading northbound in the direction of Crewe was new B8RLE MCV 6015 BU74YVK painted in D&G new livery. Was out of service. I noted this plus 2 others parked up at First Adderley Green depot at the end of October in all over white.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Noted today on the A500 near the Wolstanton turn heading northbound in the direction of Crewe was new B8RLE MCV 6015 BU74YVK painted in D&G new livery. Was out of service. I noted this plus 2 others parked up at First Adderley Green depot at the end of October in all over white.

Sister vehicle YVL is also Crewe based and operated operated a PM peak trip on the 38 today

 

[capitalpotter]

It seems First have stolen a March on D&G in tranche 3 of BSIP. Taking over evening routes 2,5, and 9. Also running a route 40 alongside D&Gs 40 and a new route 501.
D&G picked up route 27a.
Stanton's not won any extra work (not sure they bid)

 

[markymark2000]

It seems First have stolen a March on D&G in tranche 3 of BSIP. Taking over evening routes 2,5, and 9. Also running a route 40 alongside D&Gs 40 and a new route 501.

So now we have this utterly daft situation whereby D&G are running evening buses on the 11, 22 which the 'core' service is operated by First, and First are now running evening services over D&Gs 'core' network. While maybe not in the spirit of how tenders normally work, is there any way for a local authority to work with the 2 operators to get them to swap somewhat so that D&G runs the evening services on their core routes, and vice versa? I know there are multi operator tickets but a consistent operators all day can bring great benefits for passengers. Especially when, as a result of these tender wins, route 5 will now have 3 operators through the day, what a mess for passengers.

D&G picked up route 27a.

Linking Bentilee and Longton to Trentham Lakes Industrial areas is an interesting tender. Hope it works out for them. Good to see more buses work for warehouse shifts as far too many operators overlook such opportunities.

 

[capitalpotter]

Looking at the timetables it looks like First are either going to be running route 40 at the same time or they will be taking over the route entirely. Is route 49 subsidised.
Also route 9 leaves Hanley at the same time as D&Gs towards Newcastle. Surely if the nines is that busy it needs extra buses would it better to pay towards D&G increasing their frequency?

 

[SeanM1997]

When do the new routes / timetable changes take into effect? Where can you see the timetables?

 

[capitalpotter]

When do the new routes / timetable changes take into effect? Where can you see the timetables?

First Potteries

bustimes.org

 

[Thin man]

Looking at the timetables it looks like First are either going to be running route 40 at the same time or they will be taking over the route entirely. Is route 49 subsidised.
Also route 9 leaves Hanley at the same time as D&Gs towards Newcastle. Surely if the nines is that busy it needs extra buses would it better to pay towards D&G increasing their frequency?

FIrst Service 40 is Saturday only (D&G only run Mon-Fri.)
First Service 9 is Sundays and Evenings when D&G dont run.
All according to the timetables on bustimes.org anyway

 

[capitalpotter]

FIrst Service 40 is Saturday only (D&G only run Mon-Fri.)
First Service 9 is Sundays and Evenings when D&G dont run.
All according to the timetables on bustimes.org anyway

My bad. Note to self. Don't try to take in information when just woke up lol.
How come there's a route 27A?
Why not just 27?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

So now we have this utterly daft situation whereby D&G are running evening buses on the 11, 22 which the 'core' service is operated by First, and First are now running evening services over D&Gs 'core' network. While maybe not in the spirit of how tenders normally work, is there any way for a local authority to work with the 2 operators to get them to swap somewhat so that D&G runs the evening services on their core routes, and vice versa? I know there are multi operator tickets but a consistent operators all day can bring great benefits for passengers. Especially when, as a result of these tender wins, route 5 will now have 3 operators through the day, what a mess for passengers.

Which is where all-operator timetables come in handy, a rare thing in the electronic age. Yes one can 'journey plan' between specified points at specified times, but that doesn't give the full picture. There is one combined timetable on bustimes showing First and D & G (22) but others I guess the data is just too difficult to automate. For example the 38 and 38A together, gosh even the 38 / 39 together showing both directions at the same time. Going well over the top perhaps 38, 38A, 39 and 39A showing the complete service Chesterton - Newcastle - Hanley - Kidsgrove! That would of course reveal the folly of buses being 2, 28, 1, 29, 0 , 30, 1, 29 minutes apart.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Feb 2025 ==

My bad. Note to self. Don't try to take in information when just woke up lol.
How come there's a route 27A?
Why not just 27?

The 27 is the daytime off-peak service, not serving Trentham Lakes. See the First Potteries thread for the full list. Why 27A instead of 527 or W27 or even 27(diamond symbol) just shows my age.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Feb 2025 ==

When do the new routes / timetable changes take into effect? Where can you see the timetables?

Sunday 23 February, Monday 24 February or Saturday 1 March, as appropriate.

 

[Simon75]

The 7A/7 Monday to Saturday needs to be be better co ordinated with First 7 and 7A as there are either large gaps or small gaps (Smallthorne to Chell section)

 

[CN12 AWU]

Does anyone know if D&G are due more new buses? For likes of 41, 82 services fairly long routes using fairly old buses

Some of them E200's are on there last legs

 

[sonic2009]

Does anyone know if D&G are due more new buses? For likes of 41, 82 services fairly long routes using fairly old buses

Some of them E200's are on there last legs

The new Volvos for the 38 allowed the n
buses on the 38 the E200MMC to move onto the 31/37 routes.

I've heard that Longton are due some more new buses which should allow some fleet movement but what that is I don't know.

 

[EnviroExplorer]

I've heard that Longton are due some more new buses which should allow some fleet movement but what that is I don't know.

More new Evoras have been mooted for the wider Centrebus group, and looking at the fleetlist I suspect 6011/6012 are still outstanding for the Orange One. High Peak’s Skyline 199, as well as Chaserider and Centrebus Leicester have been rumoured to be getting more, which will no doubt result in more fleet shuffling.

 

[CN12 AWU]

Just ashame centres don't adopt a national fleet list for all operators in there group

Just look at D&G some are 2, 3 and some 4 number fleet numbers, even E200MMCs some are 3 number some 4 numbers

Doesn't seem to be a consistancy across companies or the group

 

[markymark2000]

Just ashame centres don't adopt a national fleet list for all operators in there group

Just look at D&G some are 2, 3 and some 4 number fleet numbers, even E200MMCs some are 3 number some 4 numbers

Doesn't seem to be a consistancy across companies or the group

Centrebus is starting to adopt a national fleet number system. It started late last year and this is when you started seeing 4 digit numbers. I believe the stance on it is/was that existing vehicles wouldn't be renumbered but new vehicles would start on the new 4 digit system.

 

[43055]

More new Evoras have been mooted for the wider Centrebus group, and looking at the fleetlist I suspect 6011/6012 are still outstanding for the Orange One. High Peak’s Skyline 199, as well as Chaserider and Centrebus Leicester have been rumoured to be getting more, which will no doubt result in more fleet shuffling.

More new buses for Skyline? They had new E200MMCs just over 2 years ago. Personally, I think they would be better for the TransPeak as the E200s are 10 year old this year if any are going to High Peak.

 

[Trainman40083]

More new buses for Skyline? They had new E200MMCs just over 2 years ago. Personally, I think they would be better for the TransPeak as the E200s are 10 year old this year if any are going to High Peak.

I understood that High Peak were due two EvoRas, that would see off the two Versas, 765 and 766.

 

[CN12 AWU]

I understood that High Peak were due two EvoRas, that would see off the two Versas, 765 and 766.

Guess versa will move to D&G?

 

[Trainman40083]

Guess versa will move to D&G?

I think both recently had accidents. Thought they were fixed though

 

[Cesarcollie]

Just ashame centres don't adopt a national fleet list for all operators in there group

Just look at D&G some are 2, 3 and some 4 number fleet numbers, even E200MMCs some are 3 number some 4 numbers

Doesn't seem to be a consistancy across companies or the group

I don’t think passengers really care……

 

[CN12 AWU]

I don’t think passengers really care……

What's that got to do with anything I never said anything about the passengers so your reply is irrelevant

I just think national fleet numbering for all centrebus including D&G should be brought in

Not some random 3 number and some 4 looks very unprofessional

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2025 ==

I think both recently had accidents. Thought they were fixed though

Wouldn't be suprised if they join the other Versas in stoke and either 2 SRs move to Crewe or 2 newer E200's

 

[Cesarcollie]

What's that got to do with anything I never said anything about the passengers so your reply is irrelevant

I just think national fleet numbering for all centrebus including D&G should be brought in

Not some random 3 number and some 4 looks very unprofessional

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2025 ==

My point is that fleet numbering has no impact on the quality of service provided.

The company is privately owned and the owners can number their buses however they like. There may or may not be any logic or system.

When you own a bus company, you too can use whatever numbering system floats your boat!

 

[M60lad]

High Peak might well have the MMC200s but they've also got a number of Citaroes in the fleet, I wonder if any new vehicles will be to replace these, also considering how High Peak route vehicles out especially single decks any new vehicles will have to be able to cope with the arduous TP Buxton-Derby route.